Statue of Antinous as Aristaeus at The Louvre, Paris

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This marble carving depicts Antinous (27 November, c. 111 – before 30 October 130) as Aristaeus, a Greek god associated with gardens, agriculture and bees. As a Bithynian Greek youth and favourite of the Roman emperor Hadrian, he was deified after his death, worshipped in both the Greek East and Latin West as either a god (theos) or mere mortal (heros). Following his death, Antinous's close relationship with Hadrian led to his deification. Statues were created depicting him as various gods from different cultures, sparking smaller cults: in Egypt, local priests quickly deified Antinous by linking him with Osiris due to the manner of his death - falling into a river and probably drowning - where he was likely embalmed and mummified. In October 130, Hadrian declared Antinous a deity and announced that a city would be built on the site of his death in commemoration of him, named Antinoopolis.